Which school of Vajrayana do you practice?

It's nice to see that practitioners of other lineages have joined the forum.

It seems like Sakya is always the least widely practiced school in the West (out of the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism) for some reason. However, the Sakyapa are continuing to open new Dharma centers around the world, so maybe one day this will change. I wonder if there were simply fewer Sakyapa in Tibet than practitioners of other schools during the beginning of the 20th century?

I guess we're still waiting for our first Jonang and Shingon members...

catmoon wrote:Gelug always scores high on these lists. Sometimes I wonder if it is due to members of The Sect That Shall Not Be Named slotting themselves in as Gelugs. Which they have every right to do, of course.

I'd love to start a thread on the relative speed with which the sects are spreading in North America, but I suppose that would entail a violation of the terms of use here, right?

I just voted and it looks to me like there are more Nyingma than anything else...

I do follow the Gelug tradition (not the not to-be-named-one). Just a quick note: I think there are plenty of practitioners who have been inspired by HHDL and Lamas close to him - one doesn't additional numbers from you-know -who to inflate the figures.

For those that don't know me, I identify as a Kagyupa. you could say I "specialize" in practices from the Shangpa Kagyu lineage, if indeed I can be said to specialize in anything (that's why they call it "practice," eh? ) though I've practiced a fair amount of Kamtsang practices, and, because I'm a current-day Karma Kagyupa I maintain some practices from a few Nyingma lineages, the Kadampa Lojong lineage from Atisha, as well as Machik's lineage of Chod.

I have established connections with the Drikungpas (HH Chetsang Rinpoche), the Sakyapas (HH Sakya Trizin), the Gelukpas (HH Dalai Lama) and Nyingmapas (HE Trulshik Rinpoche), and have great respect and devotion for all the practice lineages.

May any merit generated by on-line discussionBe dedicated to the Ultimate Benefit of All Sentient Beings.

conebeckham wrote:For those that don't know me, I identify as a Kagyupa. you could say I "specialize" in practices from the Shangpa Kagyu lineage, if indeed I can be said to specialize in anything (that's why they call it "practice," eh? ) though I've practiced a fair amount of Kamtsang practices, and, because I'm a current-day Karma Kagyupa I maintain some practices from a few Nyingma lineages, the Kadampa Lojong lineage from Atisha, as well as Machik's lineage of Chod.

I have established connections with the Drikungpas (HH Chetsang Rinpoche), the Sakyapas (HH Sakya Trizin), the Gelukpas (HH Dalai Lama) and Nyingmapas (HE Trulshik Rinpoche), and have great respect and devotion for all the practice lineages.

Cone and I seem to be largely on the same page. I'm self-identified as Ka-Nying, but Rimé in attitude. All authentic Dharma is good Dharma. I have strong connections to the Palyul lineage of Nyingma, the Drikung Kagyu (including the Yangzab Dzogchen), and most recently the Karma Kagyu.

Having started with Palyul and developed a strong affinity for the Namchö cycle and Mahasiddha Karma Chagme, it's probably not too big a stretch to consider myself a Nyedo Kagyupa with a heavy Drikungpa influence. The majority of the lamas I've met and received teachings from have been Drikungpas.

"The Sutras, Tantras, and Philosophical Scriptures are great in number. However life is short, and intelligence is limited, so it's hard to cover them completely. You may know a lot, but if you don't put it into practice, it's like dying of thirst on the shore of a great lake. Likewise, it happens that a common corpse is found in the bed of a great scholar." ~ Karma Chagme

Karma Kagyu has branches too; Shambala, Diamond Way, 2 different Karmapas with their own organizations, plus the Kalu branch of the tradition. You could probably break it down even further I imagine if you include Reginald Ray and such.

My actual practice is so from the Kalu end of the spectrum, but I've got a lot of Gelug and Nyingma influence in my perspective. Nothing wrong about the Sakya, I just haven't had that much exposure. I've met 3 Sakya lamas and liked them all, just no karmic connection. I must admit I occasionally do the 7 line prayer and ask Guru Rinpoche to keep me from being too Kagyu. Kagyus can be a little stogy sometimes.

A human being has his limits. And thus, in every conceivable way, with every possible means, he tries to make the teaching enter into his own limits. ChNN

If the thought of demons Never rises in your mind, You need not fear the demon hosts around you. It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned, there are neither buddhas or demons. He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue, will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion. Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

me neither not fixed on school, but some schools are fixed on me, meaning that i have a stronger karmic connection with some teachings and lineages so thats what we end up practicing. im also newly getting to nyingma, i found out a nyingma rinpoche living here in my country and i will dig deeper into the nyingma teachings

i also love pure land school and zen.

If the thought of demons Never rises in your mind, You need not fear the demon hosts around you. It is most important to tame your mind within....

In so far as the Ultimate, or the true nature of being is concerned, there are neither buddhas or demons. He who frees himself from fear and hope, evil and virtue, will realize the insubstantial and groundless nature of confusion. Samsara will then appear as the mahamudra itself….

Meditated with a Chan teacher from the Dharma Drum Mountain lineage, who also happened to be one of my university professors, for several years. And the first Tibetan lineage I was exposed to was Palyul Nyingma. Still fond of both. That's why I consider myself Neydo Kagyu, cuz Karma Chagme Rinpoche integrated Karma Kagyu & Palyul Nyingma together.

The Chan influence remains in that I try to remember that Ha-shang Mahayana's sandals were left at Samye. This helps me remain a bit more Rimé and see the similarities between Zen and Dzogchen. Most Dzogchen lamas (especially Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche) seem to have an affinity for Zen.

"The Sutras, Tantras, and Philosophical Scriptures are great in number. However life is short, and intelligence is limited, so it's hard to cover them completely. You may know a lot, but if you don't put it into practice, it's like dying of thirst on the shore of a great lake. Likewise, it happens that a common corpse is found in the bed of a great scholar." ~ Karma Chagme